Jeanne du Barry

The movie is truly beautifully designed and is filled with magnificent shots of Versailles. The locations and costumes have been carefully chosen and are a feast for the eyes. The story and the dialogues are entertaining enough to keep you engaged. Johnny Depp makes for a fantastic French king.

The film is directed by Maïwenn, who also plays the lead role. I can understand that a woman wants to play the role of Madame Du Barry (and she acts very well) but I don't see Madame Du Barry; I see Maïwenn. Her beauty is exaggerated. She has a coarse face with a huge mouth and a large set of teeth that give her a somewhat masculine look. I find her charming and likable, but I can't find the subtle, enchanting Madame Du Barry from the stories.

Although Maïwenn plays a character role, it's never explored and it's never really clear how her ambitions relate to her love for the king. Their love lacks intimacy and becomes somewhat understandable only towards the very end. But then it is too late for drama. The only drama in the movie comes from Benjamin Lavernhe. That man deserves a leading role.

Jeanne du Barry plunges into the opulent world of 18th-century Versailles, following the remarkable rise of Jeanne Bécu (played by director Maïwenn herself), a woman born into poverty who claws her way up the social ladder to become the last mistress of King Louis XV (Johnny Depp). The film chronicles their unconventional romance amidst the whispers and machinations of a jealous court.

While Jeanne du Barry boasts undeniable strengths, it ultimately settles for a comfortable mediocrity. Maïwenn's portrayal of Jeanne is the film's heart and soul. She imbues the character with a sharp wit and a fierce determination to survive, causing you to admire her improbable journey. However, Depp's Louis XV feels muted. Trapped under layers of powdered wigs and regal attire, his performance lacks the spark needed to truly capture the complexity of a king burdened by ennui.

The historical context, though not deeply explored, provides a fascinating backdrop. We see glimpses of a society teetering on the brink of revolution, where the extravagance of the court clashes with the growing discontent of the people. This juxtaposition adds a touch of weight to the narrative, but the film doesn't fully explore the social commentary it seems to hint at.

Visually, the film is a treat. The production design meticulously recreates the opulent halls of Versailles, with rich fabrics, gilded furniture, and sparkling chandeliers transporting you to another era. The costumes are equally impressive, a dazzling array of silks and satins that bring the characters to life. The camerawork is steady, but doesn't take many risks, relying on traditional shot compositions.

The score is a pleasant mix of classical and orchestral pieces that complement the on-screen action without being overly dramatic. The editing is efficient, ensuring a smooth and brisk pace. The dialogue, however, can be uneven at times. While some scenes crackle with witty repartee, others fall flat, relying on exposition rather than letting the visuals do the talking.

Jeanne du Barry reminded me, in some ways, of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. Both films explore the lives of women who, despite their positions of privilege, are ultimately trapped by societal expectations. However, Marie Antoinette leans into a dreamlike aesthetic and a more melancholic tone, whereas Jeanne du Barry strives for a more grounded historical drama.

Overall, Jeanne du Barry is a visually stunning and entertaining movie that benefits from Mawenn's captivating performance. However, a shallow exploration of its themes and a somewhat underwhelming lead performance from Depp hold it back from greatness. If you're looking for a lavish historical romance with a strong female lead, this is worth watching. But for those seeking a deeper exploration of the characters and their place in history, you may leave with a desire for more.

This movie was enjoyable to watch.

The narrator element blended well in telling the story of King Louis Xv mistress.

The rules of the Versailles court seem so extreme nowadays but the movie depicts everything in detail along with the costumes and dialogue it makes a very good historical drama.

Johnny Depp's French is good and he delivers his lines modestly which makes it more realistic.

Sometimes movie makers tend to embellish the historical facts, this one doesn't and the intertwined relationships between the king, his daughters and his mistress are well documented and these play out in this movie.

Depp's performance was very good. It was nice to see him play an historical character, I think it was a challenge he was up for and in my opinion he nailed it.

This movie has great visual beauty: costumes and settings are breathtaking and the cinematography is impressive. But I did have some mixed feelings when leaving the theater. This was partly due to the writing, that felt at times a bit lazy, with superficial dialogues and some abrupt jumps in time, that they tried to overcome by a voice-over filling-in several chronologic blanks (talk about lazy!).

Johnny Depp is convincing as Louis XV, his somewhat mumbling and understated way of acting suits the character fine and his French diction is impeccable. The king's mischievous sisters are at many times hilarious, and I was impressed by Benjamin Lavernhe as the king's trusted valet, his part is one of the few more multilayered ones, and he moved me to tears when at the end he had to say goodbye to his dying master. But the parts of Jeanne's beloved stepson Adolphe, as well as that of Louis's beloved third daughter, stay way too sketchy (both having hardly one line to speak) to make the supposedly enormous impact that their loss had on Jeanne and Louis relatable.

My biggest problem however was Maïwenn. She is also the director and one of the writers, and apparently couldn't resist the challenge of also taking on the major and pivotal part of Jeanne. Jeanne DuBarry was 24 years old when she, as a young and ravishing beauty, caught the eye of King Louis. Well, Maïwenn can hardly be called a beauty; besides, she was already past 45 at the time of shooting, and clearly looked her age. In her sumptuous costumes she may make a royal impression, but it's hard to swallow that the king specifically chose her out of that endless line of much more attractive and younger women.

In short: not really bad, with great visual beauty (and by the way an equally impressive score!), but unfortunately neither really good.

Have always enjoyed movies about this fascinating time period, and never get too anal about historical accuracy. What's most important for me, as a movie buff is that the creators get the "heart" and the "atmosphere" of it across with the tools available. (Actors, camera,music,setting,costumes, dialogue and a solid story) The positives for me: There were some gorgeous costumes, hair, make up and settings which all seemed to be historically correct and if they weren't it didn't matter. The score was ok. Nothing of it stood out neither exceptional or terrible. The subtitles, often, were not clear in translation and that may of knocked my enjoyment of the movie somewhat. ( I watch subtitled movies frequently, and this is NOT usually a big issue) Seems like a fascinating story with some full characters but the story did not hit me as emotionally hard as I would of liked. It just didn't feel intimate enough for me.

There was some solid acting, but again, it was a story that didn't flesh out the characters enough for my tastes.

It was ok.